Wolbert last name popularity, history, and meaning

Find out how popular the last name Wolbert is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Wolbert.

Meaning of Wolbert

A German surname derived from the words "wolf" and "bert", possibly meaning "bright wolf".

Wolbert, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Wolbert surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Wolbert in America

Wolbert is the 16868th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Wolbert surname appeared 1,690 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Wolbert.

We can also compare 2010 data for Wolbert to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 16868 15670 7.36%
Count 1,690 1,712 -1.29%
Proportion per 100k 0.57 0.63 -10.00%

The history of the last name Wolbert

The surname Wolbert has its origins in the Germanic regions of Europe, particularly in what is now modern-day Germany. The name can be traced back to the medieval period, roughly around the 12th to 14th centuries. It emerged in areas such as Bavaria and the Rhineland, which were significant centers of culture and political activity during the Middle Ages.

The name Wolbert is derived from an old Germanic personal name composed of the elements "wolf," meaning wolf, and "berht," meaning bright or famous. This combination would have originally signified a person who had the characteristics associated with a wolf, like bravery and strength, along with a notion of being notable or distinguished. Over centuries, the name evolved in its spelling and phonetics, transitioning from its older forms such as Wolbrect and Wolfbert.

The earliest historical references to the surname Wolbert can be found in various medieval manuscripts and local records. One of the significant mentions is a 1326 record from the city of Cologne, where a certain Johannes Wolbertus was listed as a burgess (citizen). This early documentation highlights the name's long-standing presence in Germanic territories.

Significant individuals with the surname Wolbert include Heinrich Wolbert, a well-known master builder born in 1462 and active in the late 15th century. His works contributed to the Gothic architecture of the region, and his name appears in several construction guild records from that era. Another notable person is Anna Wolbert, born in 1584, who is referenced in ecclesiastical records of Bavaria due to her involvement in the Reformation and local church activities.

During the late Renaissance period, around 1610, a scholar named Georg Wolbert gained recognition for his contributions to early modern astronomy. He published several treatises on planetary movements, which were notable in an era when the study of the cosmos was rapidly advancing. His works are still referenced in the history of early European scientific thought.

The surname Wolbert also appears in American colonial history. Conrad Wolbert, born in 1695 in Germany, emigrated to Pennsylvania in 1732. He played a vital role in the development of several early American settlements and is recorded in the annals of Pennsylvanian history as a pioneer farmer and community leader.

In the 18th century, the name Wolbert became associated with the arts through Frederick Wolbert, born in 1757, a prominent painter known for his landscape paintings. His works are preserved in several European art museums and are celebrated for their intricate depiction of rural German life.

Throughout history, the surname Wolbert has been borne by many notable figures who contributed significantly to their respective fields. From medieval architects to Renaissance scientists and American pioneers, the name continues to evoke a rich heritage and cultural resonance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Wolbert

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Wolbert.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

  1. White only
  2. Black only
  3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
  4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
  5. Hispanic
  6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Wolbert was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 94.97% 1,605
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 0.47% 8
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 1.07% 18
Hispanic Origin 2.90% 49

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Wolbert has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 94.97% 95.85% -0.92%
Black (S)% (S)% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander 0.47% 0.82% -54.26%
American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)% (S)%
Two or More Races 1.07% 0.70% 41.81%
Hispanic 2.90% 1.81% 46.28%

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Wolbert was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Wolbert, please contact us.

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"Wolbert last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on December 22, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/wolbert-surname-popularity/.

"Wolbert last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/wolbert-surname-popularity/. Accessed 22 December, 2024

Wolbert last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/wolbert-surname-popularity/.

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